Sonia

Iniciativa Carey del Pacifico Oriental - ICAPO - Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative

A project of NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

click map for full-size version Sonia's movements after nesting on La Playita beach in Machalilla National Park.

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Species: Hawksbill
Life Stage: Adult
Gender: Female
Release Date: 2009-01-11 00:05:33
Release Location: La Playita, Parque Nacional Machalilla, Ecuador
Last Location: 2009-03-21 14:00:47

Adoptive Parents:
Stella Jean Capobianco

Background

SONIA, an Ecuadorian hawksbill measuring 92 cm (CCL) nested on January 11th 2009 at La Playita beach in Machalilla National Park. Sonia represents the most important marine turtle in the history of Ecuador, not only providing hope for one of the most endangered sea turtle populations on the planet, but also as the first marine turtle to be equipped with a satellite transmitter on the mainland of the country. This work was conducted by various national and international organizations and marks the start of a groundbreaking marine turtle education, investigation and conservation campaign in Ecuador, with a particular focus on hawksbill turtles.

This monumental achievement for marine turtle conservation was made possible thanks to support by the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment and Machalilla National Park, Equilibrio Azul staff and volunteers, Conservation International-Ecuador, NOAA and the regional ICAPO hawksbill network.

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